Broadway Theatre

512 Broadway Street,

Buffalo,
NY14204

Interesting. Well that was 21 years ago of course….but I would assume the church must have left soon after that, as the neglect damage in those photos, has to be more than 10 or 15 years worth of major neglect.

In the book Silent Screens by Michael Putnam there is a picture of this theater (p.34). A sign above the doors lists it as Joy Temple Institutional C.O.G.I.C. Outreach Ministry. The year the picture was taken was 1986

Most of the time, most theaters do span multiple addresses. So probably, 516 was the original address used for the theater, but for some reason, at some point, someone began using one of the other addresses, 512.

As for the condition of the building, I would assume that it’s been a very long time since anything has occupied it. It’s probably been vacant a very long time. It is doubtful that the church allowed it to get so bad, if they moved out a long time ago, the deterioration probably began after they left.

I see the 512 in the photo so perhaps the building was either renumbered or it does span multiple addresses. A close-up of the sign showing the weed growing out of the roof really shows the neglect to this beautiful terra cotta exterior in an area that once thrived and is now a decaying neighborhood.

In one group of photos of the theatre there is a vertical sign on the building (since removed). The name on the sign is “God’s Holy Temple”. They were possibly the most recent occupants since the “Order to vacate the premises” posted on the building by the Buffalo buildings department was against the Temple.

What is the address you have for the building? I added this theater along with Lost Memory, and we found the address from “somewhere” (it’s been a while, I don’t remember). Perhaps “516 Broadway” is the original address for the property? Often times addresses change over the years in some cases, so perhaps the address you have is the “current” address?

This is interesting that the Sattler Theatre may have been used by not only Joy Temple, but as Mosque of the Nation of Islam. Whoever used it as a house of worship didn’t put any TLC into the building when being used by those organizations.

“This 928-seat, $35,000 "fireproof” theatre was built in 1914, on the site of the old wood-frame Casino Theatre. The architect was Henry L. Spann, probably in collaboration with his much-younger brother William T. Spann. John G. Sattler, the local real-estate tycoon and owner of Sattler department store, commissioned it. In 1919 or 1920 the theatre changed hands, and it was renamed the Broadway. In 1922 the new management installed a Marr & Colton 2-manual organ. Later still the Basil brothers took over and renamed it Basil’s Broadway. In recent years it was used as a church, Joy Temple, and possibly a Mosque of the Nation of Islam. Records found inside contain attendance lists for Muhammad’s Mosque of Islam No 23 dated 1969 and 1970. Church info list Muhammad’s Mosque of Islam No 23 as being at a nearby address (an empty lot), but not the listed address of the Sattler Theatre (but then, the listed address for the theatre is not the address on the building…and if the address on the building is correct, the location of the Mosque was at Sattler). The Mosque has sinced moved, info to be updated soon when I can make a trip to the current Mosque. There is no info about Joy Temple."

The exterior terra cotta work, alone, makes it worth saving. I, too, hope that the light above is a skylight and not a hole in the roof. It would be interesting to talk to someone who is or was a member of Joy Temple during the period they used the former theatre for services though a Google search brought forth…nothing.

It is restorable, but would take a huge amount of money. It’s not just some missing plaster, it’s down to bare bricks for vast stretches of wall in many places. Water and moisture damage appears to be everywhere. And even the plaster remaining may be loose. When you have huge stretches of wall with bare brick, that can’t mean that the remaining plaster is solid.
And what is that light coming in through the ceiling? Hopefully it’s a skylight added by the church for some natural light, otherwise could it bee a hole in the roof?

Yes, those are quite the interior photos….one can only imagine when this theatre was in its heyday. I wonder how long it has been since the Joy Temple used it? Yes, it really is in shambles. My favorite photos are of a seat with face design and of the ceiling design.

Patsy: Sattlers department store was located at 998 Broadway (actually the address was 1000, but for whatever reason 998 always prevailed and was promoted in countless commercials and jingles over the years). It was a Buffalo institution. It and Eckhardts are now only a memory, along with many other east side businesses. About the only thing left that is still operating is the Broadway market. Over the years I’ve heard countless plans put forward to revive interest in the east side and the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood, but all have died on the vine. One previous city administration managed to coerce K-Mart into building a store on the site of the old Sattlers store. I’m not sure now if the city offered K-Mart a financial incentive to make the deal more attractive. However, eventually that also failed and the store sits abandoned.

Thanks for the Buffalo commentary though sad to read. I’ve learned of a Sattlers Department Store at 918 Broadway which is historically connected to the Sattler Theatre at 516. Also, another East side department store called Eckhardt’s on Broadway. What happened to the East side as it must have been nice at one time?

Patsy: The theatre has been abandoned for a long time now. The religious group that last occupied it couldn’t afford to maintain it. Anything left vacant on Buffalo’s east side is ripe for vandalism and/or arson. It has been repeatedly broken into, regardless of the fact that it was posted as off-limits by the Police department. A trip through that part of town would soon convince you that any hope of restoration is futile. There are countless abandoned buildings and weed strewn vacant lots all through the area…not a pretty sight!

Lost Memory: These interior photos are really something as it’s the first time I have ever seen any interior photos, but have known about this former theatre in Buffalo for quite awhile thanks to CT. This theatre needs to be restored. I have forwarded the photo site to a Buffalo friend of mine to get his thoughts. And I can’t help but wonder why the church didn’t take better TLC when they had possession of it!

The next time I’m in Buffalo and near Broadway I plan to check out this former theatre. I was near Broadway the other night enroute to the Shea’s to see Mamma Mia and thought about going then, but time didn’t allow for that theatre side trip! The intricate facade is still there though the marquee is long gone. BTW, I highly recommend seeing Mamma Mia as it is a wonderful musical storyline set to the music of Abba. And if you want to see and read about one of the very talented actors who plays “Sam Carmichael” go to www.seanallankrill.com